Can you imagine Chaweng with just one resort on its long stretch of beach? Can you imagine Maenam being nothing but palm trees? Or perhaps the ring road being a dirt road? Yes, Koh Samui used to be like this many years ago. A relatively uninhabited island with coconut palms, sunshine and pristine beaches filled with promise. It was back then that Norbert Verweyen first visited the island. As he so aptly puts it, he contracted the ‘Samui Virus’ and knew, even back then, that he wanted to come back one day and live here. And he did. After extensive travelling around the world, including working for a construction company in Australia, he finally sold his business in his homeland of Germany and, in 1990, moved to Samui. Falling in love with the north west coast of the island, he built a house for himself. He did such a good job that once his friends saw the result they all wanted the same, and very soon the first row of eight houses along the beachfront were built and OK Properties was born.

Norbert has a good team of people working with him, most of whom speak his native German, as well as other languages, which helps in dealing with international customers. OK Properties has gone from strength to

strength over the years, with the majority of sales coming from good old fashioned ‘word of mouth’. The company’s tag line is ‘Quality doesn’t lie’, and even the properties built 20 years ago are still in good condition and well maintained. Buyers aren’t deserted after the sale and continue to receive support from the company - it’s a perfect partnership. Norbert has become friends with a lot of his buyers. “First a customer, then a friend,” he says.

The first project of nine houses was named Coconut Grove. When this was finished, it was soon followed by Coconut River, Coconut Paradise and then Coconut Laguna. With ongoing success and their reputation spreading even further, OK Properties then started developing a massive 240 rai plot of land on a mountainside overlooking Maenam beach. The Santi Thani project consists of Santi Thani Valley and Secret Garden (which started just five years ago). The plot of land is within walking distance to the beach, and as their brochure says, “Santi Thani Project is located on a beautiful mountain with breath-taking sea views, and surrounded by tropical wild jungle.” There are still a few plots available, they are easily affordable and come with complete infrastructure - concrete road access, electricity and water supply. In fact, if you check their website, they’re having a price cut so get in there quickly while you can. Simply tell the OK Properties team how you think your dream house should look and they will skilfully recreate that dream for you. If you prefer, there are also ready made plans available.

OK Properties has a fully qualified team of project managers, architects, CAD designers and construction supervisors. You’re in good hands here. Once the plan is completed, you will get some wonderful 3D images and a video presentation to enable you to visualise your home in more detail. Looking through their brochure and real estate magazine is like looking at an idyllic paradise location, and I guess that is exactly what it is. Stunningly beautiful homes, tropical garden landscapes, sea views, blue skies, sunshine - and it’s all so easily attainable.

If you prefer not to build from plan but would like to move directly into one of these beautiful villas, there are some available. Both garden view villas and sea view villas are waiting for new owners. They range from a two bedroom and two bathroom villa with a swimming pool and stunning sea view, to seven bedrooms and six bathrooms in two separate buildings, complete with swimming pool and car park. One particularly nice property currently for sale in Bangrak offers sea views, a 14m long pool with Jacuzzi, underwater lights and music, six bedrooms and bathrooms, two living rooms, cinema, and two Western style kitchens. It has a full security system, automatic curtains, a terrace and a garage for three cars. It’s already fully furnished to the highest standard, so you can really just buy it and move straight in.

If you want something really different, there is even one called Castle Villa. Built for someone whose specifications were ‘build me a castle’, this property has turrets, spiral staircases and interconnecting towers. It has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, an open terrace and a balcony to appreciate the views.

With all of this going on, you’d think that things may have slowed down, but on the contrary, OK Properties are starting to build some new luxury apartments in the Secret Garden project. You’ll soon be able to see pictures on their website. Each will have three bedrooms with a private pool and be completely detached. Next on the construction list is six new apartments at Coconut Laguna, and because there is such high demand for apartments right now, these six have already sold before construction has even began. That must go some way to prove the quality of these builds.

So if you’ve always wanted your own spot of tropical island beauty, give OK Properties a call and snap up a villa or a plot of land to build your dream house.